Deshan  Huang , Ruchun  Chen , Dapeng  Zhang

Hier Rice Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Rice Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 4   
Received: 10 Jun., 2025    Accepted: 23 Jul., 2025    Published: 10 Aug., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Flowering time is an important developmental trait of rice (Oryza sativa L.), which directly affects yield potential, environmental adaptability and geographical distribution. Recent studies have shown that long non-coding Rnas (lncrnas) play a significant role in the precise regulation of flowering time through multiple genetic and epigenetic pathways. This study reviews the molecular mechanisms regulating the flowering time of rice, including photoperiod, vernalization, and hormone signaling pathways, and focuses on the diverse roles played by lncrnas in these processes, such as regulating the expression of transcription factor genes, acting as competitive endogenous Rnas (cernas), and participating in chromatin remodeling, etc. Typical lncRNA cases related to photoperiodic sensitivity, hormone response and environmental adaptability were selected to elaborate on their mechanism of action in flowering regulation. In addition, the application potential of lncrNa-based molecular breeding strategies in optimizing flowering time was also explored, especially in the context of breeding demands under the background of climate change. This study aims to provide a systematic summary of the research on lncRNA regulation of rice flowering time, propose future research directions for improving rice yield and adaptability, and offer theoretical references and practical basis for enhancing rice yield and adaptability.

lncRNA; Rice; Regulation of flowering time; Photoperiodic pathway; Molecular breeding